Aliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries
P O Box 1309, Carmel Valley, CA 93924 (831) 659-2838

7. As a related point, the Pacific Fisheries Management Council and the Fish and Game Commission are doing their job on the West Coast. We believe it is fair to say that there are no situations of overfishing presently occurring. This has occurred by making some very tough decisions that hurt individual fishermen economically, but had to be done for the long-term sustainability of the resource. Our organization supports those tough decisions. The U.S. Commission Report did not develop enough information on the successes of the actions of those successful Federal Management Councils.
8. Our experience with the Pacific Fisheries Management Council is that they do listen to their Science and Statistical Committee, and are willing to make tough decisions based on that, and what the science tells them.
9. Our organization strongly supports increased coordination between those agencies having ocean management responsibilities; however, this should be coordination, not regulatory “super management.” The oceans do not need another layer of bureaucracy, and nor does the fishing community need to be even further distanced from those making decisions over our lives.
10. Fishing, both recreational and commercial, is a multibillion-dollar industry in California. The State should make sure that this industry, including the jobs it creates and its role in putting food on the table, is not halted here in favor of receiving nearly unregulated imports of fish products from foreign nations.
11. As our name implies, our organization is firmly committed to the sustainable use of ocean resources. We would hope that the state and the federal government would embrace sustainability as the major concept as well, and not embrace a model of “protection” of ocean resources against all of those who would use and enjoy them, for no other reason than to see them “protected”.

Thank you for affording us the opportunity to comment to you on the Draft Report by the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy.

Sincerely,

Mike Ricketts, Co-Chair, ACSF

Kathy Fosmark, Co-Chair, ACSF

Supporting Associations & Organizations
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association
Port San Luis Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Morro Bay Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Monterey Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Fishermen’s Association of Moss Landing
Santa Cruz Commercial Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Marketing Association
Fishermen’s Alliance
Western Fishboat Owners Association
Ventura County Commercial Fishermen’s Association
Federation of Independent Seafood Harvesters
Golden Gate Fishermen's Association
Port San Luis Harbor District
City of Morro Bay Harbor
City of Monterey Harbor
Moss Landing Harbor District
Santa Cruz Port District
Pillar Pt. Harbor, San Mateo County Harbor District